The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-09-07
In THE SURF.
BY LILY CURLY rYNER.
Boston Traveller.


The first two weeks of September are
certainly the finest of all the summer for
ocean bathing. The water has at length
become bearably warm, and the waves,
though running high, run regularly and
with certain evenness that fair swim
mer. can comprehend and count upon.
AT the resorts along the Jersey coast,
for instance, this season Of absolute
water revelry. The beach is peopled
with thousands of figures, happy and
picturesque, or grotesque, as the case
may be. Child, youth, adult, all are
here. The strong swimmer calmly cleav-
ing his way out through the breakers; !;
the timid novice shrinking at each new
burst of salty suds, and the would-be
brave one prancing defantly knee deep
in the mighty brine, yet clinging dcs-
perately at the same time to the life
line.
1t was not long since, at one of these
resorts, heavenly morning, the sky a
dazzle of sun and pale azure; the sea
booming grandly on the white sand, and
all the merry thousands fastening down
to meet il.
Two men and woman left the fourth
of their party, an elderly lady who was
not in bathing costume, as were they,
safely ensconced with chair and book
where the sand was quite dry, and
tripped lightly down to the first thin
edge of the water. To be strictly accu-
rate, but two of them tripped lightly !;
the woman, who was young and in her
own way beautiful, aud the smaller and
less thoughtful Of the two me. 1.-The third
Of the party followed with a gravity of
countenance that was quite absurd in
conjunction with his costume. Having
entered the water they naturally sepa-
rated. The younger man was slender,
graceful, willowy, golden bearded
blonde. He seemed to carry the joyous
recollection of some personal triumph.
Come, he cried, reaching out gayly to
the girl. But she drew back, for she
could not swim.
'Nol" he said carelessly, and plunged
of, leaving her near the other man. This
other was also fair of complexion, but
his close-shaven hair had the look of
brown velvet, aud his large violet eyes
were fringed with lashes almost black.
He had stopped to put some water on his
head, and looking up he saw that the
young lady stood alone, her gaze resting
| quietly upon him.
"ShallI take you out little farther'"
he asked.
''You look too sober. You might
want TO drown me-"
He took no notice of the petulance.
"You think / shouldn't look sober,
thenin
"rm sure think nothing whatever,
Mr.. Baxter. You have relieved me OF
the necessity"
He took step toward her. His face
paled. There, in the edge of the ocean,
was an absurd place to show feeling. But
and to see only her dark, uncommon
beauty and flashing eyes,
''Anita, he said, 81 have done moth
ing to merit ridieule. have been
| sincere"
ooh, yes; but too much sincerity bores
one at times"
He started; his lips moved, then he
seemed TO remember some resolution and
no sound issued from is tightly set
jaws.
But Anita continued TO speak in the
same studiously insolent tone. "Why
are we standing herel At least you
might take me over to the line. Ger.
tainly shall have lessons when we go back
to town. 1t is absurd for one to feel SC
dependent. And these good swimmer:
are always so selfish.
He put out his hand.
''Come this way" he said.
They made as pretty picture as any oi
the couples who had gone down or were
going down together.
Some lookers-on upon the beach sin,
| gled them out and discussed them.
"The young lady in white and scarlet,
with Spanish facet Miss Haskings
Anita Hastings. Hushl The mother il
there in the chair. Quite rich. The
young man, Ned Baxter; sort of four
teenth cousin; used to be engaged to her
but it is off now. She is 10 marry som,
one else" #"
Meanwhile the couple had gone out
waist deep Miss Hastings had grown
more gracious.
''GO and swim, Ned, " she commanded
with laugh 'We won't quarrel any
more.
'Quarrel2n he repeated "You thinl
/ would quarrel with you9 If, as yol
have told me, it has been a mistake
our caring for each other, and you reall,
love Grifiths, do you think I wouldni